April 07, 2014

Vision and leadership: Being remade whole

I asked an amazing group of women to say, in one word, what they felt was the most important characteristic of leadership; love, listening, charisma, integrity, wisdom, empathy, courage, trust, servant heart, encouragement.

Only one word appeared twice; integrity.

This ancient word has at its heart the Latin ‘integer’ meaning, literally, untouched or whole.

Leadership is draining and, as leaders, we cannot truthfully remain untouched. As contemporary disciples, co-missioned by Jesus to serve in His Kingdom ministry, we are called by the One who has all power to ‘go out’, to serve, in His Name. But this going out, even in His power, will drain us. We can become fragmented, broken, not whole.

After the birth of our youngest son I was severely anaemic and required a blood transfusion. The labouring, contracting and birthing produced a wonder-full new life but left me powerless & drained. The original and creative work of leadership can be exhausting as we are touched and depleted by the constant genesis of preaching, caring, praying, meeting and mentoring. We are drained, spiritually anaemic, not whole.

Severe anaemia affects our ability to see. Severe anaemia damages our vision. We can become so worthily anaemic that our vision is compromised.

If we are to serve as visionary leaders, seeding and fruitful, then we must remain people of integrity. As it is, in truth, impossible to keep ourselves untouched then we must be disciples seeking to be constantly re-made whole. To be transfused; to be poured into.

Jesus knew when the woman reached out and touched the hem of His garment because He felt power flow out of Him, healing power. He bled with healing power to stem her diseasing flow of blood and He keeps bleeding love to transfuse our anaemic lives.

All I can do, as a bleary eyed leader, is to prayerfully mix my metaphors and with an open heart ask that this jar of clay become a decanter for Him; filled, poured out, filled, poured out & filled again.

Nel Shallow is a Student Presbyter with the Methodist Church and studies at the Queen’s Foundation in Birmingham.